Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, WY)
December 6, 2013 | Curtis, Aerin
At a glance Professors from the University of Wyoming are set to work with several middle school teachers from across the state to teach students mathematical and scientific thinking styles. The group is looking to use games and robots to engage students. Teachers or principals interested in the project can contact Science and Mathematics Teaching Center Director Jacqueline Leonard at Jleona12@uwyo.edu.
CHEYENNE - Researchers at the University of Wyoming want to know if students can learn problem-solving skills by using robots and video games. The research group, led by Science and Mathematics Teaching Center Director Jacqueline Leonard, is looking to improve students' understanding of why and how they use the critical thinking skills needed in math and science fields. They're focusing on students in sixth through ninth grades. "We're using the gaming and the robots to get at the skills, the needed skills for someone who wants to go into engineering or science," she said, "so that they can have the skill set to enter the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) pipeline or at least have explored (it)."
December 6, 2013 | Curtis, Aerin
At a glance Professors from the University of Wyoming are set to work with several middle school teachers from across the state to teach students mathematical and scientific thinking styles. The group is looking to use games and robots to engage students. Teachers or principals interested in the project can contact Science and Mathematics Teaching Center Director Jacqueline Leonard at Jleona12@uwyo.edu.
CHEYENNE - Researchers at the University of Wyoming want to know if students can learn problem-solving skills by using robots and video games. The research group, led by Science and Mathematics Teaching Center Director Jacqueline Leonard, is looking to improve students' understanding of why and how they use the critical thinking skills needed in math and science fields. They're focusing on students in sixth through ninth grades. "We're using the gaming and the robots to get at the skills, the needed skills for someone who wants to go into engineering or science," she said, "so that they can have the skill set to enter the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) pipeline or at least have explored (it)."
The three-year research project is being funded by a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation's Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers program, according to university information. The work seeks to engage students in game designing and robots. Those tools offer students a hands-on way to relate to problem solving, Leonard said. "It's more than just making a robot move," she said. "They get the chance to be on the production end instead of the receiving end." The games won't be typical video games, she said. Instead, they'll be education-themed games that could cover current events or historical topics. In designing the games and programming the robots, students also will get a dose of computational thinking and should improve their visual skills, she said. "(Students) are the problem-solvers. They can come up with the task that they want the users to do," Leonard said. "It's not just a boring word problem anymore. It could be a storyboard where something is happening, and the science is maybe a social issue like fracking, with the profit margin being the (calculation)." Part of the goal will be to get students to understand why they make selections or solve problems certain ways, she said. "We want them to know why - why did you choose that, as opposed to something else," she said.
Previously, Leonard worked with a video game to teach students both history and problem solving. That game involved the study of the Underground Railroad. Before students are involved, the group from UW will train several Wyoming teachers to offer the lessons on gaming and robotics, Leonard said. The initial round of teacher training is set to start this winter, she said. Teachers will have training on how to pull the mathematical or scientific properties used out of activities like programming robots or making games, she said. "(Students) are not making the explicit connection to, 'I'm doing computer programming or engineering,'" she said. Lessons for students can be delivered during class time or as an after-school program, she said.
The group is looking to work with several schools and about 11 teachers from across Wyoming the first year. In Laramie County, there has been some discussion of working with Johnson Junior High. They also may work with Henderson Elementary in the first year, but that isn't definite, Principal Karen Brooks-Lyons said. The study is set to expand the number of schools and teachers involved during the second and third years, according to project information. Though Leonard has previously worked with students, games and mathematical problem solving, it took several years to put this project together and create the current design, she said. But it has been "awesome" to move forward with it, she added. "I found some very willing coworkers, and I absolutely love working with them," she said. "I'm looking forward to working with teachers in the state and seeing how this is going to roll out." Robots, games offer gateway to math, science
Reposted from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-35449497.html
COPYRIGHT 2007 Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All inquiries regarding rights or concerns about this content should be directed to Customer Service. For permission to reuse this article, contact Copyright Clearance Center.
Previously, Leonard worked with a video game to teach students both history and problem solving. That game involved the study of the Underground Railroad. Before students are involved, the group from UW will train several Wyoming teachers to offer the lessons on gaming and robotics, Leonard said. The initial round of teacher training is set to start this winter, she said. Teachers will have training on how to pull the mathematical or scientific properties used out of activities like programming robots or making games, she said. "(Students) are not making the explicit connection to, 'I'm doing computer programming or engineering,'" she said. Lessons for students can be delivered during class time or as an after-school program, she said.
The group is looking to work with several schools and about 11 teachers from across Wyoming the first year. In Laramie County, there has been some discussion of working with Johnson Junior High. They also may work with Henderson Elementary in the first year, but that isn't definite, Principal Karen Brooks-Lyons said. The study is set to expand the number of schools and teachers involved during the second and third years, according to project information. Though Leonard has previously worked with students, games and mathematical problem solving, it took several years to put this project together and create the current design, she said. But it has been "awesome" to move forward with it, she added. "I found some very willing coworkers, and I absolutely love working with them," she said. "I'm looking forward to working with teachers in the state and seeing how this is going to roll out." Robots, games offer gateway to math, science
Reposted from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-35449497.html
COPYRIGHT 2007 Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All inquiries regarding rights or concerns about this content should be directed to Customer Service. For permission to reuse this article, contact Copyright Clearance Center.
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